Chair structure

ABSTRACT

A chair structure adapted to stack vertically and to gang horizontally with a plurality of like chair structures wherein each chair structure has front and rear legs on each side with upper portions secured relative to a seat and frame spaced with said front and rear legs depending in diverging relation from said secured upper portions. The frame is mounted on the legs and has a base portion positioned between the legs and a back portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the base portion. The front leg on each side and the back portion of the frame are inclined in substantially parallel planes to permit compact vertical stacking. The legs on one side of a chair have greater spacing and are adapted to nest above and in engagement with the similar legs of an other chair structure when stacked. The legs on said one side have a keeper member mounted thereon engageable with the legs of an adjacent chair structure nested therebelow to effect and maintain ganging of a plurality of like chair structures in side-by-side relation.

Johnson et al.

1111 3,827,749 Aug. 6, 1974 [5 1 CHAIR STRUCTURE [76] Inventors: VernJohnson, Carbondale, Ill.;

Bobbie L. Snyder, Kansas City, Mo. I

22 Filed: Mar. 6, 1973 211 App]. No.: 338,591

l/l969 Netherlands 297/248 Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Attorney,Agent, or FirmClaude A. Fishburn fll'7 a? lh- [57] ABS'I RACT A chairstructure adapted to stack vertically and to gang horizontally with aplurality of like chair structures wherein each chair structure hasfront and rear legs on each side with upper portions secured relative toa seat and frame spaced with said front and rear legs depending indiverging relation from said secured upper portions. The frame ismounted on the legs and has a base portion positioned between the legsand a back portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the baseportion. The front leg on each side and the back portion of the frameare inclined in substantially parallel planes to permit compact verticalstacking. The legs on one side of a chair have greater spacing and areadapted to nest above and in engagement with i the similar legs of another chair structure when stacked. The legs on said one side have akeeper member mounted thereon engageable with the legs of an adjacentchair structure nested therebelow to effect and maintain gauging of aplurality of like chair structures in side-by-side relation.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMJB slam SHEEI 1 0f 2 2 aka-3 CHAIRSTRUCTURE The present invention relates to chair structures adapted tostack vertically and gang horizontally and more particularly to such achair structure that is functional and has a cushioned seat and back.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a chairstructure with spaced front and rear legs depending in divergingrelation of relative size and spacing whereby the legs on one side ofthe chair will nest within the other side legs in substantially verticalalignment; to provide such a chair adapted to stack vertically and ganghorizontally with like chair structures; to provide such a chairstructure having a cushioned seat maintained out of engagement with anadjacent chair when a plurality of like chair structures are stackedvertically; to provide such a chair structure having a back portion witha cushioned backrest mounted on a front side and a recess in a rear sideof the back portion to receive therein a cushioned member of an adjacentchair structure when like chairs are stacked vertically; to provide sucha stackable chair structure wherein the front legs and a back portionare inclined downwardly and forwardly at substantially correspondingangles or selected angles if thickness or respective members require; toprovide such a chair structure wherein a leg structure on one side isshaped and of a size to nest below and in engagement with a legstructure corresponding to that on the other side of said chair andthereby will mate with such other leg structure of an adjacent chairstructure in ganging of the chairs in side-by-side relation; to providesuch a chair structure having a keeper niember on 'one of such side legstructures adapted to engage the leg structure nested therewtih of anadjacent chair structure when ganged therewith to prevent relativehorizontal movement thereof; to provide such a chair structure with ahandrole in a backrest or back portion to facilitate handling; and toprovide such a chair structure which is economical to manufacutre,attractive in appearance, durable in construction, and particularly welladapted for the proposed use.

Other objects and advantages f this invention will become apparent fromthe following description takin in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and examplecertain embodiments of this invention.

The drawings constitute a part of of this specification and include anexemplary embodiment of the present invention and illustrate variousobjects and features of the chair structure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair structure embodying features ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the chair structure ganged with alike chair structure and having portions broken away to illustratecomponent parts thereof.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the chair structure.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the chair structure and a pluralityof like chair structures stacked vertically thereon, portions beingbroken away to show the relative back positions.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through abackrest or back portion and taken on line 55, FIG. 2 and showing thevertical shape thereof.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged top plan view of the backrest or back portion witha portion thereof broken away to show the horizontal shape thereof.

FIG. 7 is a further enlarged fragmentary perspective view of gaugingcomponents of adjacent like chair structures.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosedherein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis forthe claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in theart to variously employ the present invention in virtually anyappropriately detailed structure.

In the disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the referencenumeral 1 generally designates a chair structure adapted to stackvertically and to gang horizontally with like chair structures. Thechair structure 1 has laterally spaced combinations or leg members 2 and3 at sides thereof with each having a front leg portion 4 and a rear legportion 5. The front and rear leg of each combination have upperportions in fixed relation by connection to a frame or the like and inthe illustrated structure, they are connected by an upper portion 6 anddepend therefrom. The frame 7 is mounted on the leg members 2 and 3 andhas a base portion 8 positioned between the leg members 2 and 3 and aback portion 9 extending upwardly from the base portion 8. The front legportion 4 of each of the side leg members 2 and 3 and the back portion 9of the frame have substantially corresponding inclination and therebyare substantially parallel to permit compact and solid verticalstacking. The side leg members 2 and 3 are of different size whereby oneside leg member will rest beneath the other side leg member of anadjacent chair. In the illustrated structure, the right side leg member2 is adapted to nest below and in engagement with a left leg member 3 ofan adjacent chair structure 1. A keeper on one nested leg structureengages the other to prevent relative horizontal movement of gangedchairs. As shown, the left leg member 3 has a keeper member 10 mountedthereon and engageable with the right leg memer 2 of an adjacent chairstructure to effect and maintain gauging of a plurality of like chairstructures in side-by-side relation.

The side leg members 2 and 3 are each generally U- shaped members andpreferably formed of square tubular material for appearance, strengthand lightness in weight. The upper portion 6 of each of the leg members2 and 3 is generally horizontal and the front and rear legs 4 and 5respectively diverge downwardly from the ends thereof. The front legportion 4 is inclined forward at a selected angle relative to a verticalline intersecting the upper end thereof.

The rear leg portion 5 of each of the leg members 2 and 3 is alsoinclined at a selected angle relative to a vertical line intersecting anupper end thereof. The lower end of the rear leg portion 5 is positionedrearwardly of the upper end thereof thereby providing a wide supportarea for the chair structure whereby the chair structure 1 is stable.The legs 4 and 5 each have suitable glides in lower ends thereof.

The front leg portion 4 of one of the leg members, for example a rightleg members 2 as viewed when seated 3 in the chair structure 1 andfacing forward, is parallel with and positioned rearwardly of the frontleg portion 4 of the other or left leg member 3. The rear leg portion 5of the right leg member 2 is parallel with and positioned forwardly ofthe rear leg portion 5 of the other leg member 3. The upper portion 6 ofthe right leg member 2 is parallel with and positioned below the upperportion 6 of the other or left leg member 3 whereby each of the legmembers 2 and 3 of the chair structure 1 is adapted to gang with arespective leg member of a like chair structure with the right legmember 2 of one chair structure nesting below and in close relationshipwith the left leg member 3 of another chair structure. The side legmembers are of a shape and size that when the chairs are ganged thefront surface 11 of the front leg 4, top surface 12 of the upper portion6 and rear surface 13 of the rear leg 5 of side leg member 2 are inclose relationship to the rear surface 14, bottom surface 15 and frontsurface 16 of the front leg 4, upper portion 6 and rear leg 5respectively of the side leg member 3.

The ganged chair structures are maintained in a ganged position by thekeeper member 10 which is mounted on an exterior side of the upperportion 6 of the left leg member 3 and has a portion depending below theupper portion 6 of the left leg member 3. The keepermember 10 isengageable with an inner side of surface 17 of the upper portion 6 ofthe right leg member 2 of an adjacent structure of a gang of like chairstructures.

The frame 7 is illustrated as a generally L-shaped structure preferablyformed of square tubular members for strength and lightness in weight.The frame 7 includes spaced right and left side members 18 and 19respectively suitably secured to the right and left leg members 2 and 3respectively and inwardly theof to provide stacking clearance, as laterdescribed. The base portion 8 of the frame 7 is formed of a lower orbase portion 8 of the right and left side members 18 and 19 and by frontand rear spacer members 21 and 22 respectively which extend between andare suitably secured to the right and left side members 18 and 19 and atrelative heights for desired seat inclination.

The lower or base portion of each of the side members 18 and 19 hasupturned forward end portions 23 with the front spacer member 21extending between said end portions and fixed thereto. Te lower or baseportion 20 of the frame 7 is positioned below the upper portion 6 of theright and left leg members 2 and 3 respectively and is suitably securedto the leg members, as by welding, said base portion 20 that is securedto the leg member 3 serving as a stop, as later described. A seat 24 issupported on the front and rear spacer members 21 and 22.

The back portion 9 of the frame 7 is defined by back or rear portion 25of each of the right and left side members 18 and 19 respectivelyextending upwardly from the respective lower or base portion 20 thereof.The rear spacer 22 extends between and is fixed to said rear portion 25.In chairs having the thickness of the leg portion 4 and the backportion, the same said back portion 9 of the frame 7 is substantiallyparallel with the front leg portion 4 of the leg members 2 and 3 topermit compact and solid vertical stacking of like chair structures.Chairs having different thickness as with upholstered backs would havethe relationship at selected angles for desired stacking.

The chair has a backrest 28 mounted on the side members 18 and 19. Thebackrest is illustrated as an arcuate or curved member having aforwardly facing recess 28 in which a cushion or resilient member 30 ismounted and has a face 30' that forms the front side thereof. Thecushion or resilient member 30 extends outwardly or forwardly of thebackrest 28. The backrest 28 has a downwardly open recess 31 in a backor rear side 32 thereof to receive therein a cushion or re,- silientmember 30 of an adjacent chair structure when stacked verticallytherewith.

The backrest 28 is removably mounted on the side members 18 and 19 andsecured by suitable fastening members. In the structure illustrated, thelower portion of the backrest is supported on clips 29 fixed on the sidemembers 18 and 19 with each having a flange 29' extending inwardlytherefrom. The clip flanges 29 are received in notches on recesses 28"in the lower side portions of the backrest to be hidden and are securedby suitable fastening devices such as screws or the like 29". To furthersecure the backrest 28 to the side members 18 and 19, each of said sidemembers have slots or recesses 26 in the inner wall and extendingdownwardly from the top thereof. The backrest has projections or pins 27extending outwardly from sides thereof adjacent the top thereof that arereceived in said recesses 26. It is preferred that the pins 27 bethreaded and have nuts 27 threaded thereon to clamp same to the walls ofthe side members 18 and 19. The threaded pins 27 and nuts 27 cooperatewith the clips 29 and screws 29" to positively hold the backrest on theside member. The upper ends of the side members 18 and 19 are closed bysuitable caps or the like 33' to provide a finished appearance.

The backrest 28 had a hand hole 33 therein positioned adjacent an upperedge of the backrest 28 to permit gripping of the backrest to handle thechair structure.

The upper end 34 of the recess 31 curves rearwardly and has a spacingfrom the top edge 35 of the backrest 28 less than the stacking height ofthe chiars to assure accommodation of the cushion 30 of the backrest ofthe next lower chair. The stacking height of the chairs is the verticaldistance between like portions of a chair and that of the next lowerchair.

The base portions 20 of the frame are secured to the front and rear legs4 and 5 on each side of the chair. On the side where the legs 4 and 5have the greater spacing for the leg member 3, the base portion 20 isbelow the upper portions of the legs or the portion 6 thereof in aposition to be engaged by one side of the leg combination 2 of anadjacent chair nested therein. This engagement cooperates with thekeeper 10 on the leg member 3 to hold the leg member 2 and the gangedchairs against relative lateral or horizontal movement.

In ganging chair structures constructed as illustrated and described, aleft leg member 3 of one chair structure 38 is positioned over a rightleg member 2 of an adjacent chair structure 39. Upper surfaces 11, 12and 13 of the front leg portion 4, rear leg portion 5 and upper portion6 respectively of the right leg member 2 of chair 39 are in closerelationship with respective lower surfaces 14, 15 and 16 respectivelyof the left leg member 3 of the chair 38 and the keeper member 10thereon is positioned in engagement with an inner face or surface 17 ofthe upper portion 6 of the right leg member 2 and right leg member 2 orportion 6 thereof v engages the base portion of the chair 38. Thisprocess is repeated until the desired number of chair structures arepositioned in side-by-side relation. The relation of the nested legportions and the engagement of the keeper firmly holds the chairstogether with substantially no relative movement in use.

- In stacking a plurality of chair structures constructed as illustratedand described, the right and left leg members 2 and 3 are aligned withrespective right and left leg members 2 and 3 of a lower chair. Theupper chair structure is then moved downwardly with the respective legmembers in engagement one with the other and the back portion 9 of theframe 7 of the upper chair structure is in engagement with the backportion 9 of the frame 7 of the lower chair structure. The outer widthof the back across the side members 18 and 19 is slightly narrower thanthe inside width between the side leg members 2 and 3 providingclearance for the back legs as the chairs are moved downwardly one overthe other in stacking. The cushion or resilient member of the lowerchair structure is received in the respective downwardly open recess 31in the next upper chair structure. The seat 24 is maintained out ofengagement with the structure of the next upper and the next lower chairstructure by means of the stacking height obtained by engagement of theleg members. The structure of the leg members and stacking relation ofthe parts provide an arrangement wherein the chairs are not onlyupholstered, but also will stack 20 chairs high with a top seat heightof approximately 6 feet.

It is to be understood that while We have illustrated and described oneform of our invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form orarrangement of parts herein described and shown.

' What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A stackingchair structure comprising:

a. a chair leg chair structure with the right leg member 2 of one chairstructure nesting b. a pair of spaced front and rear legs on each sideof said frame and having upper portions, said front and rear legsdiverging downwardly from said upper portions, said front and rear legshaving opposed inner and outer faces, said front leg of each of saidpair being inclined at a selected angle relative to a vertical line;

c. said frame being mounted on said pairs of legs and having a baseportion and a back portion and positioned laterally inwardly of saidpairs of legs, said base portion being below said upper portion of eachof said pair of legs, a backrest member secured to said back portion ofthe frame, said back portion being at a selected angle relative to saidfront leg of each of said pair of legs to provide substantially equalstacking height and permit compact vertical stacking;

d. a seat mounted on said frame and positioned above said base portion;

e. said chairs being stackable in a substantially vertical stack andsaid pairs of legs being sized whereby when stacked, upper chairs aresupported by the outer faces of the front and rear legs of a chair beingengaged by inner faces of the next upper chair and the seats and theupper portions of the 6 pairs of legs of the chair are spaced from theseat and upper portion of the pairs of legs of the next upper chair.

2. A chair structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. said backrest member has a resilient cushion member mounted on afront side thereof; and

b. said backrest member has a recess in a raear side and extending to alower edge thereof adapted to receive therein the resilient cushionmember of a next lower chair structure when stacked vertically with likechair structures.

3. A stacking ganging chair structure comprising:

a. a pair of laterally spaced leg members each having an upper portionand a front and rear leg portion depending therefrom, said front andrear leg portions having opposed inner and outer faces, each of said legmembers being adapted to nest in engagement with an opposite leg memberof an adjacent chair structure to permit ganging of a plurality of likechair structures;

b. a keeper member mounted on one leg member and adapted to engage saidopposite leg member of an adjacent chair structure of a gang of likechair structures;

c. a frame having side members mounted on and positioned between saidpair of leg members, said frame having a base portion and a backportion, a backrest member secured to said frame back portion, said baseportion being below said upper portion of each of said leg members;

d. a cushioned seat mounted on said frame and posi tioned between saidframe side members and above said base portion;

e. said chairs being stackable with the outer faces of the front andrear leg portions of one chair being engaged by the inner faces of thefront and rear leg portions of a next upper chair and the leg portionsof said next upper chair engaging the frame side member of said onechair and the cushioned seat of said one chair being free of engagementby said next upper chair;

f. said front leg portion of each of said leg members is inclined at aselected angle relative to a vertical line; and

g. said back portion of said frame and backrest member are inclinedsubstantially at the same selected angle as said front leg portion ofeach of said leg members to permit compact vertical stacking.

4. A chair structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein:

a. said backrest member has a resilient cushion member mounted on afront side thereof; and

b. said backrest member has a recess in a rear side extending to a loweredge thereof adapted to receive therein the resilient cushion member ofa next lower chair structure when stacked vertically with like chairstructures.

5. A chair structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein:

a. said keeper member is mounted on an exterior side of the upperportion of said one leg member and depends therefrom and has a planarinner face substantially parallel with an outer face of said one legmember;

b. said keeper member is engageable with an interior side of the upperportion of said opposite leg member of an adjacent chair structure of agang of like chair structures; and

c. said opposite leg member of the adjacent chair en gaging the baseportion of the frame of the chair having said one leg member wherebysuch engagement cooperates with the engagement of such keeper memberwith said opposite leg member to hold the ganged chairs against relativehorizontal movement.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONPATENT N0. 3,827,749

DATED August 6, 1974 INVENTOMS) Vern Johnson and Bobbie L. Snyder It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent is hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, lines' 38 and 39, delete "leg chair structure with right legmember 2 of one chair structure nesting" and insert -frame;

Signed and Scaled this Second Day Of October 1984 [SEAL] Arrest:

GERA LD J. MOSSINGHOFF Attesting Officer Commissioner of Parents andTrademarks

1. A stacking chair structure comprising: a. a chair leg chair structure with the right leg member 2 of one chair structure nesting b. a pair of spaced front and rear legs on each side of said frame and having upper portions, said front and rear legs diverging downwardly from said upper portions, said front and rear legs having opposed inner and outer faces, said front leg of each of said pair being inclined at a selected angle relative to a vertical line; c. said frame being mounted on said pairs of legs and having a base portion and a back portion and positioned laterally inwardly of said pairs of legs, said base portion being below said upper portion of each of said pair of legs, a backrest member secured to said back portion of the frame, said back portion being at a selected angle relative to said front leg of each of said pair of legs to provide substantially equal stacking height and permit compact vertical stacking; d. a seat mounted on said frame and positioned above said base portion; e. said chairs being stackable in a substantially vertical stack and said pairs of legs being sized whereby when stacked, upper chairs are supported by the outer faces of the front and rear legs of a chair being engaged by inner faces of the next upper chair and the seats and the upper portions of the pairs of legs of the chair are spaced from the seat and upper portion of the pairs of legs of the next upper chair.
 2. A chair structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said backrest member has a resilient cushion member mounted on a front side thereof; and b. said backrest member has a recess in a raear side and extending to a lower edge thereof adapted to receive therein the resilient cushion member of a next lower chair structure when stacked vertically with like chair structures.
 3. A stacking ganging chair structure comprising: a. a pair of laterally spaced leg members each having an upper portion and a front and rear leg portion depending therefrom, said front and rear leg portions having opposed inner and outer faces, each of said leg members being adapted to nest in engagement with an opposite leg member of an adjacent chair structure to permit ganging of a plurality of like chair structures; b. a keeper member mounted on one leg member and adapted to engage said opposite leg member of an adjacent chair structure of a gang of like chair structures; c. a frame having side members mounted on and positioned between said pair of leg members, said frame having a base portion and a back portion, a backrest member secured to said frame back portion, said base portion being below said upper portion of each of said leg members; d. a cushioned seat mounted on said frame and positioned between said frame side members and above said base portion; e. said chairs being stackable with the outer faces of the front and rear leg porTions of one chair being engaged by the inner faces of the front and rear leg portions of a next upper chair and the leg portions of said next upper chair engaging the frame side member of said one chair and the cushioned seat of said one chair being free of engagement by said next upper chair; f. said front leg portion of each of said leg members is inclined at a selected angle relative to a vertical line; and g. said back portion of said frame and backrest member are inclined substantially at the same selected angle as said front leg portion of each of said leg members to permit compact vertical stacking.
 4. A chair structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein: a. said backrest member has a resilient cushion member mounted on a front side thereof; and b. said backrest member has a recess in a rear side extending to a lower edge thereof adapted to receive therein the resilient cushion member of a next lower chair structure when stacked vertically with like chair structures.
 5. A chair structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein: a. said keeper member is mounted on an exterior side of the upper portion of said one leg member and depends therefrom and has a planar inner face substantially parallel with an outer face of said one leg member; b. said keeper member is engageable with an interior side of the upper portion of said opposite leg member of an adjacent chair structure of a gang of like chair structures; and c. said opposite leg member of the adjacent chair engaging the base portion of the frame of the chair having said one leg member whereby such engagement cooperates with the engagement of such keeper member with said opposite leg member to hold the ganged chairs against relative horizontal movement. 